The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. was organized
in late 1929. The US Navy ordered 27 production Grumman FF-1 biplane
fighters in 1932, the beginning of a relationship that has endured
for more than seventy years. The FF-1 was a diminutive stagger wing
fighter capable of a top speed of 207-MPH. A large number of
aircraft were produced for export by Grumman in the early 1930s, but
the company wanted to win a contract for a new and improved USN
fighter. In May of 1934 the company succeeded with a contract for 54
F2F-1s. In 1934 the company also won a contract for a new and
improved F3F-1. The latter was aerodynamically improved design which
overcame some of the design inadequacies of the earlier aircraft.
The F3F-2 was delivered in 1937. Three units were equipped with the
aircraft, VF-6 operating off the USS Enterprise, VMF-2 based in San
Diego, California, and VMF-1 based in Quantico, Virginia. Grumman
was working on another variant, but they became concerned about the
monoplane design proposed by Brewster Aircraft, so they modified
their proposal from the XF4F-1 biplane to the XF4F-2 monoplane which
would become the Grumman Wildcat fighter. The F3F was a stretched
version of the earlier F2F produced by Grumman and also had larger
wings and more modern aerodynamic features. Initial production
models were fitted with a 650-HP Pratt & Whitney radial and an
8-foot 6-inch Hamilton Standard prop. The F3F-2 was the primary
variant. It utilized a 950-HP engine and was armed with one .30
caliber and one 0.50 caliber machine guns. The F3F-2 was capable of
a top speed slightly in excess of 240-MPH, had a service ceiling of
30,000 feet, and an effective range of 825-miles. The F3F-2s were
delivered to VF-6 aboard the USS Enterprise, VMF-1 at Quantico
Virginia and VMF-2 at San Diego, California. The F3F-3 was similar
in design to the F3F-2. The two aircraft were almost
indistinguishable, yet the 3 was 8-MPH faster due to a tighter
fitting engine cowling, some aerodynamic refinements, and the
deletion of the the fuselage vents. By the end of 1941 the last of
these Grumman biplane fighters had disappeared from front line
service. VMF 111 and VMF 211 were the last two units to relinquish
their F3Fs in July and October of 1941, respectively. The1941 color
movie Dive Bomber, starring Erroll Flynn, Ralph Bellamy, and Fred
McMurray, featured the F3F, and many future naval aviators were
motivated to sign-up after seeing this picture. As illustrated in
Stan Stokes’ painting, an F3F aircraft piloted by a young Naval
officer of Fighting Six, James E. Howard, lifts off from the USS
Enterprise during fleet maneuvers before the War. Howard flew with
VF-6 from 1937 through 1941. In mid-41 he resigned his commission to
join the AVG Flying Tigers in China, and upon his return to the
States he accepted a commission with the USAAF as a Captain. He
became commander of the 356th Fighter Squadron flying the P-51
Mustang. Howard’s most memorable day was on January 11, 1944 when he
single handedly protected a bomber squadron from enemy fighter
attack on their return from their bombing mission. Labeled a “one
man air force” by one of the bomber pilots, Howard would be awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic acts of January
11th. Howard was the only fighter ace in the European theater to be
so honored.
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Collector Sized Lithograph:
$40
16" x 11 1/2"
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Giclee on Canvas:
$445
18'' x 27''
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